How to make a purse out of duct tape

This purse is woven (sounds hard but it isn't), and it measures about six inches long, six inches tall, and two inches wide. I made mine with smooth black tape, and most people don’t believe that it’s made of tape at all. All these measurements are assuming your duct tape is 2” wide, which is standard.

To make the front and sides, cut 6 strips of tape 10 inches long (or the length of your purse plus four). Put them together sticky side to sticky side in pairs. Then cut 10 strips 6" long, and put them together in pairs too.

Weave them together, the longer strips going lengthwise. When you’re done, put some pieces of tape on the back to hold it together.

Cut a 10" piece of tape, and cut it in half lengthwise. Fold one half over the top edge of your woven sheet, and put the other half on the bottom. You might have to cut a little tape off the top/bottom edges of the panel to make them straight first.

To make the back, cut 12 strips that are 6" long each. Stick them together in pairs, and then weave them together. Tape the back and the top and bottom edges the same way you did the first panel.

Next, take the first panel you made and fold 2 inches over on each end (the left and right sides, not the top and bottom), these are the sides. Tape them to the second panel from the inside. Cut a strip of tape, and then cut it in half; use it to tape the top and bottom edges together. Where you attached them, the edges of the weave are probably a little loose; I super-glued them together because if you put tape underneath them it shows through.

For the bottom, cut at least 4 strips of tape 7" long, put the first two together, and then add as many more as you like to sturdy it. When you’re done, tape it to the sides from inside and outside the bag. It should be a little longer than necessary, so tuck the extra length inside the bag.

Then to make the strap, cut a long strip of tape and fold it in half lengthwise over itself. You will probably have to use more than one and tape them together. Tape it on to your purse and you’re done!

To be a bit more accurate, it took two rolls of duct tape and an afternoon, but all things considered that is certainly not that bad. There is nothing sturdier than duct tape, and my friends who have to buy a new backpack every semester envy my trusty two-year-old bag. It’s as good as new. Also, when you live someplace rainy and carry around a lot of paper, its waterproof qualities are a lifesaver. The best part, though, is that you get to make it exactly how you want it. In that spirit, I have included some very vague instructions that will allow you to make an awesome bag in a fashion that suits your needs. Happy taping!

Start out with a plan. Think about what you will carry in it. What are you going to use it for? How big do you need it to be? What pockets do you need? I knew mine was going to be used for carrying around schoolbooks, so I took one of my binders and measured it, and then added a bit of space so it was possible to slide them in. I also designed inside pockets, for my calculator and day planner and such, and then outside pockets for pens, pads, cell phone, and another miscellaneous pocket. If you’ve already made yourself a duct tape wallet, make a special pocket for that. I find it helpful to make a drawing with measurements, so everything comes out the same size instead of looking messy.

Bust out the duct tape. I used a roll and a half for my messenger bag, which is fairly big, but it’s better to buy too much than not enough. When shopping for your supplies, consider the possibility of using colored tape. Or use whatever you have left over from the 9/11 panic. To make a sheet, just lay out strips of duct tape in whatever shape you want, and then tape over them in another layer, so the sticky parts are stuck together. This is where you will get frustrated, due to the fact that you will not realize how sticky duct tape actually is until you try this. However, you will figure it out, I guarantee. Once you have your sheet, you can trim it to make it exact. Then you make another one. Then you assemble them with more duct tape. Easy.

Then it’s time for the pockets. For pockets, just make smaller squares and attach them on three sides. However, I learned the hard way that if you don’t line the bottom, things will push through and get stuck in the tape and then they’re impossible to get out. So, before you attach the sides of the pocket, attach the bottom with a piece of tape on the inside and on the outside. (I think this is the fun part.)

Find a strap. If you’re just making a purse, I’m sure a piece of tape would suffice, but if you’re carrying something heavier, a duct tape strap will likely stretch or break or just be really uncomfortable. Fabric of some sort is probably your best bet. I used a piece of my dad’s outdated safety equipment, which was awesome because it is sturdy and has a buckle, but I bet most people don’t have that on hand. I have also considered the possibility of knitting a strap, but I have not tried it yet. No matter what, it’s a fact that duct tape alone will not hold your strap. It will just slide out. You’re going to need to sew it on. I can’t sew for beans, but just sticking a regular needle back and forth through my bag sufficed. Cover the outside with some duct tape to hide your unsightly stitches, and you’re all set. I used hot glue in addition to that, but I am not sure how much that really helped.

Decorate in whatever way suits you. I like stickers a lot, and if I get sick of them, I just cover them over with more duct tape and my bag’s as good as new.

On the matter of repairs. Only recently has my bag started to rip, mostly from the binding of the spiral notebook I pull in and out constantly. If this happens to you, stick on another piece of duct tape to patch it. I like to bum different colors off my friend.